Shoe-horn



(No Model.)

B. WOLF. SHOE HORN.

No. 455,083. Patented June 30,1891/ UNTTE STATES PATENT @TTTQE.

EDIVARD IVOLF, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

SHOE-HORN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 455,083, dated June 30,1891.

Application filed March 28, 1891. Serial No. 386,822. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD IVOLF, a citizen of the United States,residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Shoe- Horns; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to shoe-horns; and it consists in a device wherebythe shoe while beingpulled on shall be securely grasped and readilyreleased.

My invention further consists in means for smoothing out any wrinkles orfolds that may appear when the shoe is on the foot all as hereinafterfully described, illustratedin the drawings, and specifically pointedout in the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein like letters ofreference point out similar parts on each figure, Figure l is aside Viewof the device, the lever-arm being partly open, and showing in dottedlines said arm swung open to its extreme limit. Fig. 2 is a top view ofthe device closed up. Fig. 3 represents the device connected to anovershoe, illustrating the manner of its practical operation.

In the drawings, A represents an ordinary shoe-horn; B, sidespermanently connected to the rearend of the horn and uprising therefromat about right angles thereto to about the median line :0 thereof. Fromthis point there extends forwardly a continuation of each side, forminga tongue I), the lower end of which is arched and not connected to theshoe-horn. The ends of these tongues form bearings for reception of aswinging lever.

In the drawings is shown a thin rod or wire 20, which is passed througha bore in the head of the lever, the opposite ends of said wire beingjournaled within apertures at the end of each tongue; but any suitablemechanicaldevice for adjustment of the lever within the ends of thetongues adapting it to swing axially will be within the scope andpurview of my invention.

L is a swinging lever, consisting of a main arm curved upwardly anddownwardly to adapt it when closed, as shown in Fig. 2, to

lie snugly between the opposite sides B. The free end of this arm isprovided with an upturned curve 0, against which the hand or finger willrest when operating the device, as will be readily understood and. asplainly shown in Fig. verL is provided witha downward projection forminga fulcrum-clutch Z, the lower edge of which is shaped to conform withthe transverse surface-line of the horn A. The clutch is provided withsuitable limiting-detents to prevent the lever being lifted beyond apredetermined degree. In the drawings I have shown studs 8 s on eachside, which, as the lever is swung, will arrest its progress by contactof said studs with the side piecesB; but suitable limiting-detents maybe adjusted upon the surface of the lever to mesh with notches orprojections upon the tongues. I do not desire to be understood aslimiting myself to the form of limiting-stops shown in the drawings. Theforward end of the lever is transversely orificed and the device iscompleted by passing through the apertures of each side and through theorifice of the lever an axial bearing to, over which said lever is freeto swing downwardly between the sides in the position shown in Fig. 2and enabling itto be turned into any of the positions shown in thedrawings.

From the foregoing description and the drawings the operation of myinvention will be readily understood. I have illustrated its applicationto pull a rubber overshoe over an ordinary gaiter, but do not desire tobe understood as limiting myself to such use. It is equally serviceablefor adjusting any shoe or slipper over the foot.

Its operation may be thus briefly explained: The horn A isinsertedvertically within the back of the shoe. the shoe is on the footor after the toe end has been introduced. The surface of the horn, ascommon in such device, is arched to conform to the curvature of theheel. The

lever-arm is then swung until it is brought within the sides B, wherebythe clutch Z will be pressed against the outer surface of the shoe, andthe intermediate material between said clutch and the outer surface ofthe horn inserted within the counter of the shoe will be securelygrasped. The upper end of the This may be done before' The opposite endof the lehorn and lever are then taken hold of by the hand and both arepulled upwardly, drawing the shoe with it. \Vhen pulling shoes on thefoot, especially rubber overshoes, the side edges frequently becomelapped or overturned, and to unfold such portions is difficult andpainful, as before the employment of my device such adjustment waseifccted by introduction of a finger under such disan ranged portion. Toovercome this is the object of the end curve 0 of the lever, which canbe inserted in place of a finger and will readily smooth out any portionof the edge of the shoe that has become wrinkled or overlapped. Thisapplication is illustrated in Fig. 3. I

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

A shoe-horn provided with a swinging lever, the free end of which isoverturned to 001m pose curved hook 0, its opposite end journaled totongues 1), extending from side pieces B, permanently connected to thehorn and forming flanges at each side edge thereof, in combination withthe fulcrum-clutch attached to and extending downwardly from the pivotedend of the lever, said clutch having projecting detents limiting themovement of the swinging lever, asand for the purpose intended,substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

ED\VARD \VOL'F.

\Vitnesses.

SAML. I1. JACOBSON, GEO. R. GRAY.

